Anglican Network in Canada

Mission
Home  Christianity  Find a church  Donate  Contact us  ARDFC  Log-in  Blog


  About ANiC

  News

  Newsletters
  Bishops’ messages
  Our stories
  News releases


  Events

  Ministries

  Clergy resources

  Parish resources

  Other resources

  Membership

  Affiliations

  ANiC Newsletter: 18 October, 2010 ... pdf version
    

Handle with prayer!

News – ANiC and AEN

ANiC synod updates
It’s only two weeks until ANiC’s third annual synod, November 4-6 in Ottawa. The agenda is being refined, synod volunteers and ANiC staff are diligently tying up loose ends (do pray for them!) and plans are, by God’s grace, coming together for a soul-stirring event. To see the latest version of the agenda and other important information, check out the ANiC website.

Even if you can’t attend synod – and as you can see from the agenda, there is far more to synod than business – you can watch live webcasting on AnglicanTV and follow, and interact with, Kate’s live blogging on the AEC blog. In addition, David Virtue of VirtueOnline plans to attend.

Here are a few details:
A new ANiC Council (formerly known as the ANiC Board) will be elected at synod. A nomination committee will present a slate of candidates; however delegates will have the opportunity to present additional nominations from the floor of synod.
Those accompanying delegates to synod who are not registered will be able to purchase a meal package onsite.
On the first evening of synod, November 4, there will be a global missions emphasis. Missionaries with close ties to ANiC will be able to set up displays – but must reserve table space at least a week in advance by contacting Marilyn at 1-866-351-2642 extension 4020.


Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali to speak in Ottawa, November 5-7
St George’s is bringing Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali to Ottawa for multiple speaking engagements on the weekend of November 5-7. In addition to being the keynote speaker at the ANiC synod on Friday, November 5, Bishop Michael’s speaking engagements include:
Date Location Topic
Fri noon, Nov 5 Parliament Hill Humble Conviction in the halls of power
Sat am, Nov 6 St Alban’s Talking about God in post-Christian culture
Sat pm, Nov 6 St Paul’s Univ Faith & a secular age: Implications for Christianity & Islam
Sun am, Nov 7 St George’s Community & faith: Anniversary Eucharist service
Sun pm, Nov 7 St George’s Coming of global Christianity: Mission, persecution, growth

See the flyer and postcard advertisement of the event.


Remember to pray for the persecuted church; get your church involved
November 14 has been designated the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. It’s easy to participate as a church or small group. All the resources you need are available online.


Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC) update
Almost $8000 has been received toward the ARDFC’s current project: Malaria Reduction in the Diocese of Maseno, Kenya. In addition, almost $4000 has come in for emergency relief projects like providing disaster relief in flood-ravaged Pakistan. The Anglican Relief and Development Fund Canada (ARDFC) is ANiC’s global aid arm and the Canadian counterpart within the ACNA of the ARDF in the US. The ARDFC is dedicated to
“restoring health, hope and dignity in Jesus’ name”.


BC church planting report given to Anglican 1000
At the recent Anglican 1000 meeting of ACNA pastors in Nashville, Tennessee, ANiC’s Bishop Ron Ferris presented a report on church planting efforts in BC by ACNA and our Ministry Partners. He reported that, of the 28 parishes and projects in BC, seven are newly planted congregations.

When the ACNA was founded in June 2009, Archbishop Bob Duncan challenged his new province to plant 1000 new churches within five years. This challenge has grown into the Anglican1000 movement. Bishop Ron reported that, based on average Sunday attendance, ANiC’s proportional share of the Anglican1000 church plant target is approximately 30 new congregations, and already seven have been planted in BC alone.

The same Anglican1000 meeting, which was attended by a number of ANiC clergy, inaugurated a new
Simeon Fellowship – a network of Anglican (primarily ACNA) pastors who commit themselves to church planting in their local areas, supporting church plants across the continent, and fellowshipping with each other.


Four deacons to be ordained to the priesthood in Vancouver area
On November 21, Bishops Don Harvey and Trevor Walters will ordain the Revs Keith Ganzer, Aaron Roberts, Doug Beattie, and David McElrea to the priesthood. This service will be at 3pm at Broadmoor Baptist Church in Richmond, BC.


New Brunswick meeting series planned
Bishop Charlie Masters will speak in five communities in New Brunswick in mid-November. These sessions are intended to provide information on ANiC and ACNA and explain how ANiC church plants – which are fully Anglican, biblically faithful, evangelizing and nurturing – can contribute to the cause of the gospel in New Brunswick. In addition to the presentation, these sessions will also includea time of worship and as well as fellowship over tea, coffee and refreshments.

The following meetings are scheduled:
Moncton Nov 12 (Fri), 6-9pm Moncton Wesleyan Church, 945 St George St, Moncton
Saint John Nov 14 (Sun), 6-9pm Grace Presbyterian Church, 101 Coburg St, Saint John,
Fredericton Nov 15 (Mon), 6-9pm Willie O'Ree Place, 605 Cliffe Street, Fredericton
Miramichi Nov 16 (Tues), 6-9pm Portage Restaurant, 191 King St, Rte 11, Miramichi
Sussex Nov 17 (Wed). 6-9pm All Seasons Restaurant, 1015 Main Street, Sussex


ANiC junk mail
Do you find that emails from ANiC end up in your spam folder? The reason for that is that email software often identifies mass emails (such as ANiC newsletters) as junk mail – or spam. You can make sure ANiC emails don’t automatically go to your spam folder by taking a few simple steps. While the specifics will vary depending on your email software, they should be similar to this:
1. Open an email from ANiC, then click on “Actions” in the menu above
2. Select “Junk email” and then select “Add sender to safe senders list”


Bishop Don to visit Trinity
On October 26-27, Bishop Don will be in Ambridge, Pennsylvania to meet with facility and ANiC-sponsored students at Trinity School for Ministry.


Negotiations ongoing
The AEC blog tells us that negotiations between the Diocese of Ottawa and two ANiC parishes – St George’s and St Alban’s – aimed at avoiding the courts, are ongoing in Ottawa.


Parish news
Christ the Redeemer (New Brunswick – Moncton, Sussex, Quispamsis, and Bay du Vin) hosted a visit by Bishop Don and Trudy Harvey last weekend which culminated in a joyous Holy Eucharist on Sunday. There were 55 gathered from the four New Brunswick communities that make up Christ the Redeemer - Moncton, Sussex, Quispamsis, and Bay du Vin. Worship in song was led by a team fresh from the recent Christ Awakening (Montreal) Conference. Guests included: the Rev Alex Cameron and his family from Vermont; and Vina Sweetman, of the Isaiah 40 Foundation, from Montreal. Two of Bishop Don’s high school friends from Newfoundlandalso came especially to greet him.

Christ The King (Toronto) will hold its official launch service with the Rev Ray David Glenn preaching and Bishop Don presiding on Sunday October 24. Please see the poster for details.

If your parish has news that would be of interest to others in ANiC, please email Marilyn or call 1-866-351-2642 extension 4020.


Calendar of upcoming events – for your interest and prayer support
Oct 23 – St John’s Richmond, Bible in a Day seminar
Oct 24, 6:30pm – Christ The King (Toronto) service of celebration and thanksgiving
Oct 30 – AEC-sponsored seminar on spiritual warfare at St Luke’s, Calgary
Nov 3 – Clergy day, Ottawa, ON
Nov 4-6 – ANiC synod with featured speaker Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, Ottawa, ON
Nov 14 – International day of prayer for the persecuted church
Nov 21, 3pm – Four to be ordained priests, Broadmoor Baptist Church, Richmond, BC.
Jan 25-27 – ACNA 2011 church planting summit in Plano, TX with speaker Tim Keller
Jan 25-31 – Anglican Communion Primates Meeting (Dublin, Ireland)
March 21-22 – Asian Mission inaugural conference, Vancouver, BC
March 29-31 – ANiC’s 2011 pastors’ retreat near Abbotsford, BC


News shorts – Anglican Church in North America (ACNA)

ACNA charismatic conference planned for March 25-27 in Akron, Ohio
A spiritual renewal and refreshing conference, entitled Rekindling the Fire, is planned for March 25-27, hosted by St Luke's Anglican Church in Akron, Ohio. More details to come… but the American Anglican Council, which is organizing the event, says the intention is to keep the registration fee low, as well as provide as much host housing as possible. Reflecting on the
“fire of the Holy Spirit that many of us were shaped and formed by in the 1970s and 1980s” and the wearisome “Anglican wars” of the past decade, Bishop David Anderson (CEO of the American Anglican Council) says “there is a sense that we need to turn to the things of growth and renewal… [T]he Lord has heard our prayers and he will provide the fire.”


Bishops and the faith
This week’s short Anglican Perspective video, produced by the American Anglican Council, focuses on Bishops and the Bible – a proper understanding of the relationship between apostolic ministry (of bishops) and the apostolic faith proclaimed in the Bible. Based on a recent message given by Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, the Rev Phil Ashey says, apostolic ministry must always be servant to apostolic faith as the Bible declares in Titus 1:7-9.


Postcards from Canada
At the ACNA Clergy / Spouse Retreat at Ridgecrest NC – which was attended by Bishop Don, Trudy and seven others from Canada – the cards, photos and posters from ANiC parishes were presented to Archbishop Greg Venables. Almost all ANiC parishes and many individuals participated in the project. Bishop Don says he was very moved by the response from Canada as was Archbishop Greg. He adds
“I am certain our outpouring of love and affection did much to strengthen and encourage him as he went back to Argentina to cope with recent developments emanating from the Anglican Communion Office.”


More ACNA news
Walton Tribune – Oct 13 2010 – Beach named first bishop of new diocese


News shorts – Canada

Spiritual warfare seminar in Calgary, October 30
Anglican Essentials Calgary is sponsoring a seminar on Saturday, October 30 on spiritual warfare. Entitled
“Welcome to the War”, the seminar will be led by Dr Roy Matheson and Dr Charles Nienkirchen, with sessions on: The cosmic struggle, Maintaining a balance in an occult friendly world, Building a Satan-proof life, Protection for us and our families and Ministering to the spiritually oppressed.

Where: St Luke’s Anglican Church, 2951 - 26 Avenue SE, Calgary
When: Saturday, October 30, 9am – 5pm
Cost:$35 (which includes lunch)


Calgary clergy retreat
Anglican Essentials Calgary is also hosting a clergy retreat, November 1-3 at Kingsfold Retreat and Renewal Centre lead by Dr Roy Matheson and Dr Charles Nienkirchen. For information see the Anglican Essentials Calgary website.


ACoC Primate to meet with Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop Fred Hiltz of the Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) will meet with Dr Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, on November 3. In what has become an annual meeting, Archbishop Hiltz anticipates he will be asked tough questions related to the ACoC’s action and inaction on same-sex blessings. According to an Anglican Journal article, questions related to violations of the Windsor Report posed by the general secretary of the Anglican Communion in a letter earlier this year, are likely to come up. However, the article says:

“So far, the Canadian church has been able to tell the Communion office what it wants to hear. When Canon Kenneth Kearon, the general secretary of the Anglican Communion, asked provinces if decisions had been made or policies established that run contrary to the moratoria described in the Windsor Report. The report set out moratoria against same-sex blessings, the ordination of bishops in gay or lesbian relationships or cross-border intervention. The answer from the Anglican Church of Canada was ‘no’.

“Still, several dioceses in Canada have decided to allow same-sex blessings on a limited or experimental basis. While attending General Synod 2010, Canon Kearon released a memo asking what responsibility a province has for the actions of a bishop or diocese. He also asked whether a provincial House of Bishops that maintains a bishop engaged in cross-border interventions is breaching the Windsor Report moratoria.”


According to the article, Archbishop Hiltz hopes to put forward the Canadian approach of “being sensitive to one another, being able to live together with difference, [and] not moving aggressively but gracefully and patiently” as a model for others in the Communion.


Other Canadian news
Halifax Chronicle Herald – October 13 2010 – Emptier churches at risk


News shorts – US

Bishop Nazir-Ali aligns with Diocese of South Carolina
Bishop Mark Lawrence made two significant revelations in his address to the Diocese of South Carolina’s recent convention. First, he announced that Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali will become the part-time assisting bishop of South Carolina, responsible for Global Anglican Relations. Although Bishop Nazir-Ali will continue with his existing itinerant responsibilities and will not move to the state, he will visit frequently for a series of teaching residencies. Bishop Lawrence then also revealed that the Presiding Bishop, earlier that week, had hinted to a number of TEC bishops that she was considering deposing Bishop Lawrence. AnglicanTV has video of major convention addresses.

In his address to the convention, Bishop Lawrence sited numerous examples of the diocese’s partnerships nationally and internationally. He said,

“…the voices coming from outside the Diocese as well as from inside the Diocese that suggest we are courting separatism or an inappropriate autonomy rings rather hollow... We are clearly connected in significant ways across the worldwide Anglican Communion. We are seeking to work collegially where we can with those within the Episcopal Church and with others in the larger Anglican scene in North America. Certainly we have challenged and will continue to challenge a tendency to revise the core doctrines of our church and to reshape the polity of the Episcopal Church through an inappropriate extension of power. What a great time to be alive and to be about the work of the Gospel of Jesus Christ…

“The sad truth is that our theological commitments are seen by more than a few of the present leaders in this church as the enemy. We hold a position that needs to be purged or eliminated, or at best contained or marginalized in an ecclesiastical ghetto. There are such things in this world as mutually exclusive understandings of the Christian faith. There are such things as a mutually exclusive understanding of the church’s mission, where coexistence would seem unlikely if not impossible… Not unlike a battalion in a military campaign which is ordered to hold a pass or a position against overwhelming odds—so we are called to resist what many of us believe is a self-destructive trajectory within the Episcopal Church; to resist until it is no longer possible and at the same time to help shape the emerging Anglicanism in the 21st Century, which is increasingly relational and less institutional.”



Mere Anglicanism conference agenda announced
The popular annual Mere Anglicanism Conference is set for 20-23 January 2011. The high-powered roster of speakers includes Presiding Bishop Mouneer Anis (Middle East), Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali, Ashley Null and Dr Stephen Noll – among others.


Other US news
Church of England Newspaper – October 8 2010 – Third lawsuit… filed over Fort Worth secession
Church of England Newspaper – October 8 2010 – Episcopal property cases carry on in Georgia and Virginia
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette – October 15 2010 – Episcopalians calm in rough sea
Crescenta Valley Weekly – October 14 2010 – St Luke’s Anglican Church: One year later
Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel – October 17 2010 – Church must push for inclusiveness...
Charleston Post and Courier – October 16 2010 – Episcopalians assert authority


News shorts – International

Southern Cone bishop given the boot
The removal last week of Bishop Tito Zavala (Chile) from a Communion body sent shock waves around the Communion. Bishop Tito, who is a bishop in the Southern Cone under Archbishop Greg Venables, was notified on October 14th that he had been removed by the Anglican Communion bureaucracy – specifically Anglican Communion Secretary General Kenneth Kearon – from the Communion’s Inter Anglican Standing Commission on Unity Faith and Order.

Earlier, two members were removed from Communion ecumenical discussions due to their inability, as representatives of the Episcopal Church of the US, to also represent the doctrine of the Communion while TEC is in violation of Communion teaching. However, Canon Phil Ashey of the American Anglican Council, points out that this action disciplines a province that has not violated the doctrine of the Communion, but rather has provided emergency pastoral intervention in provinces that are in violation of Communion doctrine. In a well reasoned critique, Canon Ashey writes,
“The removal of Bishop Tito Zavala communicates to ecumenical partners of the Anglican Communion that the integrity of diocesan borders is as important, if not more important, than apostolic faith in the Anglican Communion.”


Diocese of Sydney (Australia) tightens belt while growing attendance
The Church of England Newspaper reports that, in his presidential address to synod, Archbishop Peter Jensen reported that the evangelism campaign of the preceding year resulted in an estimated five per cent growth in church attendance in the diocese. The evangelism effort reached over 40 per cent of households in the area, with 1.75 million people contacted.

However, Archbishop Jensen also said the diocese was experiencing continued financial distress due to the 2008 financial market crash that decimated the diocese’s investments. Archbishop Jensen said,
“…it seems possible that the amount of money available to support diocesan works in the next few years is going to be reduced from the $7.5 million of 2010 to something like $4 million.”

According to the Sydney Anglican website, the synod also “…reaffirmed its conviction that lay and diaconal administration of Holy Communion is consistent with the teaching of Scripture and “may” be allowable. The resolution comes in the wake of an opinion from the Appellate Tribunal of the Anglican Church of Australia about the legal basis for allowing deacons and lay people to administer Holy Communion. Lay presidency has never been authorized in the Diocese of Sydney.


News in brief from around the world and around the Communion
India – The Archbishop of Canterbury is currently on a 16-day visit to India.

Australia – The West Australian reports that the Archbishop of Perth, Roger Herft, has declared that he, like the Archbishop of Canterbury, supports homosexual bishops as long as they are celibate.

South Africa – The Lausanne Congress on Evangelism is underway in Cape Town. The reported 5000 participants from 198 countries were joined by 100,000 viewers via global links. These evangelism congresses were started in 1974 by the Revs Billy Graham and well-known Anglican John Stott. Archbishop Henry Orombi (Uganda) is chairman of this, the third, congress. A number of other Anglican Primates are in attendance including ACNA’s Archbishop Bob Duncan.

England – The Telegraph reports that Bishop John Broadhurst (Fulham) will resign his Church of England post later this year and accept the pope’s offer, joining the Roman Catholic Church’s Ordinariate for Anglo-Catholics. The newspaper says that “Bishop Broadhurst made his announcement at Forward in Faith’s national assembly in London today.”


Other international news
Church of England Newspaper – October 8 2010 – Bishop calls down the wrath of God upon kidnappers in Nigeria
Church of England Newspaper – October 8 2010 – No resolution of same-sex blessings debate from SA House of Bishops meeting [South Africa]
Huffington Post – October 16 2010 – Chilean Archbishop booted from top Anglican panel


Soul food

Just for laughs
A couple's happy married life almost went on the rocks because of the presence in the household of an aged aunt. Aunt Emma had lived with them for seventeen long years – always crotchety, always demanding. Eventually she passed away.

On the way back from the cemetery, the husband confessed to his wife, "Darling, if I didn't love you so much, I don't think I could have lived in the same house with your Aunt Emma all those years."

Startled, his wife stared at him aghast. "
My Aunt Emma!" she cried. "I thought she was your Aunt!"


A college student, trying to earn his way through school, was going from house to house offering to do odd jobs. At one house, the man asked, "How much will you charge to paint my porch?"

"Forty dollars."

"Fine," said the man, and gave the lad paint and brushes.

Three hours later the paint-splattered student knocked on the door again.

"All done!" he said proudly, and collected his money. Turning to go, he called over his shoulder, "By the way, that's not a Porsche, it's a Ferrari."

Courtesy of www.mikeysFunnies.com


Youth ministry: Adult connections key to youth “belonging” and retention
Sydney Anglicans carries a good piece on church youth ministry. It says,
“…think about whether the young people in our youth ministries had any substantial relationships with other adults in the church. Research in the US has shown that when young people have genuine relationships with adults other than their parents and youth leaders they are more likely to stay involved in their church communities... the greater a sense of ‘belonging’ that children and young people feel in their church, the more often they participate in church activities and the more likely they are to remain in the church as they grow up.”

The article then recommends that at youth events having five youth to one adult is a good ratio and, conversely, each youth needs solid relationships with about five adults in the church to be connected and to continue in the church.

The article concludes:
“We’ve observed… that the youth ministry in many churches can tend to be quite isolated from the rest of the congregation. Most would agree that this is not a healthy arrangement – either for the young people, or for the church as a whole. So, can the young people involved in the youth ministry at your church name five adults in the church other than their youth leaders with whom they have some sort of relationship?”


Worth reading – About Halloween
The October issue of Faith Today has an article discussing various Christian perspectives on Halloween – including “ignore it”, “transform it” and “engage it” – and offers suggestions for parents. A companion article deals with talking to teens about the occult.


Please pray...
For preparations for
ANiC’s 2010 synod in Ottawa, November 4-6.

For our
bishops and clergy and their families – especially those battling illness.

For
ANiC projects, church plants and parishes, and for their proclamation of Good News to those in their communities who desperately need new life in Christ.

For the three BC Court of Appeal judges considering the decision regarding the use and beneficial ownership of Vancouver-area ANiC parish properties and a bequest, as well as the awarding of court costs.

For the other legal challenges faced by ANiC parishes, including:
The mediation process involving St George’s & St Alban’s (Ottawa) and their former Anglican Church of Canada diocese.
The ongoing litigation involving St Aidan’s (Windsor) and the ANiC parishes in the Niagara Diocese region, resulting in mounting expenses

For all the
congregations involved in court proceedings and disputes. Pray for a continued focus on, and blessing upon, their ministry in the midst of this turmoil. Pray for peace for the wardens and trustees who are on the front lines and bear the burden of risk and responsibility.

For the
leaders and parishioners of the dioceses pursuing eviction of and legal damages against ANiC congregations and wardens.

For much needed donations
to the legal cases and disputes involving ANiC congregations.

For those affected by devastating storm damage and flooding in
Newfoundland.

For funding of the
ARDFC’s malaria prevention project in Kenya.

For
persecuted Christians, especially in Muslim lands.

For a fair and peaceful referendum in the
Sudan in January.

For repentance and revival in
our nation – as well as a hunger for God and a thirst for His Word.

For all those in positions of leadership and influence in the
Anglican Communion, that they would seek to honour and obey God above all else.


And now a word from our sponsor
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can beagainst us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Romans 8:31-39



... back to "Newsletters" main page


Bookmark and Share


               

Anglican Network in Canada | Box 1013 | Burlington | ON | Canada | L7R 4L8 | Tel.: 1-866-351-2642 | Anglican Network email contact

Registered Canadian Charity Number: 861 091 981 RR 0001